NAIA Women’s Soccer Players of the Week - No. 5

Linton and Zenz earn national weekly honors

October 02, 2012

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Karly Linton of Spring Arbor (Mich.) has been named the NAIA National Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Katie Zenz of Grand View (Iowa) has been tabbed National Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Linton and Zenz were selected based on their performances from Sept. 24 - 30 and were chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Linton, a native of Midland, Mich., tallied five goals, including both game-winners, and two assists to lead Spring Arbor to a 2-0 record with victories against Bethel (Ind.), 4-0, on Sept. 25 and at Marian (Ind.), 5-0, on Sept. 29. Against Bethel, the junior midfielder posted her second career hat trick - the first coming against Saint Francis (Ind.) on Oct. 29, 2011 - with scores in the 26th, 45th and 56th minute before dishing out an assist on the Cougars' final goal of the match. Linton continued her hot streak in Spring Arbor's weekend tilt against Marian with goals at the 6:05 and 32:31 marks of the first half. She also assisted on Megan Colby's goal in the 32nd minute.

Linton has scored in 7-of-11 matches this season en route to a team-high 10 goals. Her eight assists ranks fifth in the NAIA and 28 points is 13th.

Zenz, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, posted back-to-back shutouts for the fourth time in her career with clean sheets against NCAA Division III Central (Iowa) on Sept. 25 and St. Ambrose (Iowa) on Sept. 29. The senior goalkeeper combined to make 13 saves for the week, including a second half penalty kick stop to maintain the Vikings 1-0 win against St. Ambrose. Zenz has not allowed a goal in her last 319:58 in net.

On the year, Zenz owns a 5-5-1 record, 1.09 goals against average and .806 save percentage.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

For the complete player of the week calendar, click here. The next NAIA National Women's Soccer Players of the Week will be announced on Oct. 9.